Internal-combustion gas-turbine engine.



E. ATWELL.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION GAS TURBINE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUGA, 1910. RENEWED JULY 1, 1911.

Patented Aug. 15, 1911;

3 SHEETS-$111531 1.

WITNESSES.

E. ATWELL. INTERNAL COMBUSTION GAS TURBINE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.4,-1910. RENEWED JULY 1, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

Ill/VENTOH 1555mm alzwll ATTORNEYS Patentd Aug. 15, 1911.

B. ATWELL.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION GAS TURBINE ENGINE.

APPLICATION rum AUG. 4, 1910. RENEWED JULY 1 1911.

1,000,882. 0. Patented Aug. 15,1911.

3 BHEETS-SHEET 3.

wzmgsses; l/VI/ENTOI? i 2111/ fl/a/c 0 BY 0 I ATTORNEYS i INTERNAL-COMBUSTION GAS-TURBINE ENGINE.

. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. '15, 191-1.

Application filed August 4 1910fSeria1No. 575,406. Renewed m 1, 1911. Serial No. 636,508.

To all whomit concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN A'rwELL, a'

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented a new and Improved Internal-Combustion Gas-Turbine Engine, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are: to provide an engine of the character specified wherein the explosivemixture is primarily compressed and while so compressed is exploded; to provide an explosion chamber wherein is explodedthe compressed charge of explosive mixture While establishing communication between the said explosion chamber and the turbine rotor; to provide a reciprocating mechanism for compressing and firing the explosive mixture as distinguished from the turbine 01' rotor mechanism; to provide a compression chamber wherein the gases are maintained at a low temperature; to provide an engine of the character set forth employing in mutual operative relation a reciprocating explosion chamber and aturbine shat't driving rotor; and to provide an engine of the character set forth, the construction and arrangement of which is simple, economical and durable.

One embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in which .Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a machine constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention, the section being taken on the line 11 in Fig. 3, the engine being shown in position subsequent to the explosion; Fig. 2 is .a similar view, showing the engine in position at the moment of explosion; and Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1. a

As illustrated in the accompanying draw- .ingsytheengine is provided with a casing S,

receive the hub. of the rotor l0,.-and tojsuppasses through astufling box 13.

construction.

port a driving shaft 12 where the. same The stuffing bo1 z13 closed by a gland 14; of usual The casing 8 is preferably castas a single unit "to form the chambers for the blade BXtQllSiOlisOi the rotor 10 and the hub of the sa'id rotor. The chambersare closed by al face plate 15, which is bolted or otherwise jsuitably secured to the casing S. The face plate 1.5. isprovided with a circle lar opening concentric with the opening in 6 the extension 11 PlOX'ltlttl to" receive the shaft 12. The circular opening in the, face plate 15 is surrounded by an annulaiybolting flange 16. The bolting "flange 16 is provided to receivca cylinder 17 to be held rigidly thereby. The cylinder 17 is pro.- vided with a series of passages 18 disposed in'line with and registered with the blades 19 of the rotor 10.

The passages 18 are formed by curved vanes 20. The anes 20. asshown inFig. 3 of the drawings, are pitched in a direction set angularly to the blades 19 and in the di; rection of the rotary path of the rotor 1'10,;as indicated by the arrow in said Fig. 3. It will, be understood that the vanes 20 are in; tegrally formed with and constitute a part of the cylinder 17. The vanes 20 are pro? vided with open passages 21 to form con. necting passages between the water jackets 22, 22 of the cylinder 17f The water jackets 22, 22 are provided for cooling the cylinder 17 and parts connected therewith as in the. usual explosive engine construction. An in: let pipe 23 and an outlet pipe 21 are con; nected to the said jackets in' the manner usual in such constructions; means of the arrangement described the wateris freely circulated and thetemperature o't the cylinders and parts connected therewith Cir -maintained in w n'kin condition.

Sl'idably mounted in the cylinder 17. is a a piston rod 25. At the end of the said rod 25 is mounted a piston head 26', and rigidly mounted on the rod 25 is a second piston head 27 Both piston heads are rigidly conn'e'cted to the piston rod and separated from each other a distance designed to form the explosive chamber for the engine. Each of the pistons is provided with a guide Wall uponwhich are suitably mounted packing The water spaces 30 and31 are provided for between the heads thereon in position to normally seat the valve 29. The valve 29 lifts into the space 26 and,27. v The piston heads 26 and 27 are provided with circulating water spaces 30 and 31.

the circulatlon of water which is introduced through the piston structed as shown in Fig. 1 ot' the drawings, ofouter and inner tubes, one of which is connected with a flexible inlet pipe and .the other with a flexible delivery pipe 33.

-stood that water is of explosive mixture by Passages 34:, 34 connect the inner and outer tubes with the water spaces 30 'and'31. By means of this arrangement it will be underforced into and delivered from the water spaces 30 and 31 during the operation of the I 4 taining the temperature of the pistons at a workable degree; 1

It will be seen that by means of the watercooling system for the cylinder 17 and the system for maintaining circulation in the and parts operating therein are maintained at working temperature.

In the operation of the presentengine, th piston rod 25 and the heads 26 and 27 connected therewith are reciprocated in timed. relation with the driving shaft 12, within the cylinder 17. The extent of the reciprocation is indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The extreme position of the piston heads 26 and 27 at the outward 0r delivery stroke of the piston rod. is shown in full lines in said Fig. 1, While the position of'the pistons at the extreme of the innerorcharging stroke of the said piston rod and piston heads is indicated by dotted lines in the said figure at the outer end of the said cylinder 17. The cylinder 17 is connected with the carburetor or supply means of a supply pipe 35, which delivers into a valve controlled nipple 36. The passage formed by the nipple 36 through the head of the cylinder 17 is closed by means of a valve 37 of the usual type and constructimi. T e valve 37 is spring seated, a spring 38 being employed to normally seat the said valve to close the passage through the nipple 36. By the operation of the valves 29 and 37, when the piston 27 is carried away from the head of the cylinder 17 toward the The passage 28 is normally between the piston 27 rod 25, whicli is C0111 engine, thereby main; 1 This is a piston heads 26 and 27, the cylinder rotor 10, the valve 29 is closed and the valve 37 is drawn upon by the rarefication within the chamber of the cylinder 17. ,This rarclication causes a suction to draw. the explosive mixture into the upper portion oi. the cylinder 17. Attention is called to Fig. 1 wherein is shown the relative dimen sions of the chamber in the cylindu' 17 and the head of tile said cylinder, and the explosion chamber formed, between the pistons 26 and 27. When the pistons 26 and 27 are moved from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 to the position figure, the compression of the gas in the chamber of the cylinder 17 between the head thereof and the piston 27 opens the valve 29 and closes the valve 37.1 It will be noticed that when the face of the piston 26 passes the ends of the vanes 20 all exit from the space between the pistons 26 and 27 is closed, and the vfurther continuance ofthe travel of the pistons 26 and 27 to the position of the said pistons shown in dotted ines, operates to transfer the quantity of gas drawn into the chamber of the cylinder 17 to the, space between the pistons 26 and operation results in imparting to the explosive mixture betweenthe said pistons thedesired compression. 1

Formed in the walls of the cylinder 17 passage 89, in the outer end of which is mounted a spark plug 10. The passage 3,9.opens into the cylinder 17 at near the edge .of the passages '18 formed between the vanes 20. In the travel. of the pistons 26 and 2T, .the space between the said pistons is alined with the passage 39 immediately prior to the face of the piston 26 passing the end of the said passages 18. By this arrangement is accommodated the timing of the sparking device with which the engine is provide The sparkinglmechashown in dotted lines in said nism connected witlrthis engine'is of any usualand approved. type. Under preferred conditions the ignition spark is caused to operate at. the short interval between the passage of the facejof the-piston 213 into alinemcnt with the nor the full efleet of the explosion of the explosive mixture between the pistons is vanes 20. In this inan-.

obtained and transferred expansibly'outward through the passages 18, 18 between the vanes 20, 20. When the rapidly expanding .gases are thus delivered through. the passages 18,18, they are delaterallyficctcd in conformity with the curvatureof the vanes 20, 20, which causes the gases to impinge upon the blades 19, 19 of the rotor 10. The blades 1!), 19 are arranged and disposed substantiz'illy as shown in the drawings, delivering outward into an annular passage 41 wlueh 1s connected with the outlet or exhaust 9,115 seen in Fig. 3 of; the

thus controlled and directed, imparts the 1 imparted to the shaft 12.

gen eiit of t The ni rotor 10 a rotary motion, which is inturn The rotor 10 is providedw'ith a body eXtensi-on42 having formed thereon a boss 43 arranged to receive the drivin "shaft 1.2, and to be rigidly and permanent y mounted thereon. The driving shaft 12 is provided with a suitable driving pulley, or, otherdriving device as dictated by the use to which. the-engine. is placed.

The piston rod .is reciprocated from and in timed relation to, the driving shaft- 1.2; For this purposelthe piston rod '25 is rigidly connected to a cross head 44. The

outer endsof the cross head 44 are secured f-by nuts 45, ,45 to guide'rods 46, 46. The

guide rods 46, 46 are mountedin sleeves 47, 47 formed in the ends of bracket arms 48 and 49, the latter being extended from and preferably cast with the casingi. The

guide rods46, 46 are operatively connected at the inner end with equal bevel gears 56, 56. The bevel wheels 56, 56 are each meshed with a bevel gear 57 rigidly mounted upon the driving shaft 12' The ratio of the diameters between the bevel gear 57 and the bevel gears 56, 56 controls the time relation of the rotation of the shafts 54, 54

a The bearings 55,

and a bearing 58 are formed in a loop bracket and disks 50, connected therewith, with the rotation of the driving shaft 12. The reciprocations of the piston rod 25 and pistons mounted thereon are synchronizedwith the rotation of the shafts 54, therefore the reciprocations of the pistons 26 and 27 may be adjusted in timed relation with the rota- 'tion ofthe driving shaftlQ. It is obvious that by the introduction of a plurality'of varying sized bevel gears mounted rigidly on the shaft 12 and meshed with loose clutch controlled gears mounted on the shafts 54, the speed of the shaft 12 COUld'lOB varied without requiring invention further than here pointed. out.

for the shafts 54, 54

59, whichis provided with bolting pads 60, 60 to be rigidly secured upon the extension 11. of the casing 8, substantially as shown in the drawings. i v

While I have herein shown the engine as constructed for singleunit work, it will be understoodthat two. rotors 10, cylinders 17 and operating mechanisms connected therewith, could be mounted upon the shaft 12 land atboth en been considered unnecessary ther the'rapid succession of outward sions produces an equal HUHIbBIfOfJHWQJ'Cl i a s th r s Whs h ins ant pulley, or other drivingv device the} dri with which the shaft .12 is provided, would be located between the two engines. It has i this duplicationof thesconstruction. in the drawings. i i

to illustrate,

. From the eitplosion chamber L heads26,and 27, all dead air or b urnedgfuel- .is drawn by thesuction naturally produced by the rapid rotation of the vanes 19., Eur; exploimpulses of, the surrounding air whichpirculation of air it is found is suiiicient to maintain the temperature of therotor at Working height.

It will 'be understood that while I herein shownt-he flexible pipes 32'and 33,

as supplying theiwater cooling system l do not wish to,be undcrstoodas lllllltllllg ll lyr self to such construction. 1am well awaretl at more plug may be used on an? engine of this type.

Having thus described my inventiomwhat I claim as new and. desire to secure byal ietters Patent is i 1. An internal combustion gas turbine en; gine, comprising a rotor hav ng a plurality of re lially disposed open-ended spiral pas sages; a driving shaft fixedly connected with said rotor; an elongated cylinderen tended within said rotor in line with sa d I I driving shaft, and havinga ser es otiopen;

ended radially-(1isposedpassages ari'angedin line with thepassagesof said rotor; 2a piston rod slidably mounted on said cylinder;

than one a plurality of piston heads fixedly nit'iunted Q,

on said rod in separated relation; akaivc controlled lIllBUfOl' said cylinder; a valvc controlled passage in open commun cat on between the space betwcensaid piston heads and the receiving end of said cylinder; means for igniting the explosivematerial in said space'between said piston heads in timed relation with the IXIOYGIIIGDUOfSaid piston rod; and a translating mechan sm connecting'said driving shaft and piston,

rod for reciprocating the said piston rod; in timed relation with the rotation of said driving shaft. i i a 2, An internal con'il'nistion gas turbine on:

of radially disposed open-ended spiral passages; a driving shaft fixedly connected with said rotor; an elongated cylinder extended within said rotor in line with said driving gine, comprising a rotor having a'pl'uralitv shaft, and having a series of open-ended b radially disposed passages arraiiged'in line with the passages of said rotor; a piston rod slidably mounted on said cylinderya plus rality of piston heads fixedly mounted on said rod in separated relation; a valve controlled inlet for said cylinder; a valve conradially disposed trolled; passage in open Communication be tween the. space between said piston heads and the receiving end of said cylinder; an ignition system embodying a spark plug; a passage opening from said cylinder in com- 'niunication with said spark plug, said pascylinder adj accntto sage opening into said the said radially disposed passages therein;

- ZVCOllIltQlf-Sllflft having mounted on the end thereof a cranking device; means for opera tively engaging said cranking device and said driving shaft to operate in unisonfand a pitman connecting said counter-shaft and said piston rod. for reciprocating the said pistonrod;

3; An internal combustion gas turbine engine, comprising a rotor having a plurality of radially disposed open-ended spiral pass sages; a driving shaft fixedly connected with said rotor; an elongated cylinder extended within said rotor in line with said driving shaft, and having a' series of open-ended passages arranged in line with the passages of said rotor; a piston rod .slidably mounted on said cylinder; a plu -rality of piston'heads fixedly mounted on said rod in separated relation; 'a'valvecontrolled, inlet for said cylinder; a valve controlled passage in open communication be-' tween the space between said piston heads and the receiving end of said cylinder; an ignition system embodying a spark plug; a

- passage opening from said cylinder in c'ommunication with said spark lug, said passage opening into said cylin er adjacent to the said radially disposed passages therein; a plurality of counter-shafts, mounted inthe frame of the said engine, said counter-shafts having mounted at the outer ends. thereof driving eccentrics and at the inner: ends thereof equal driven gears; a driving gear fixedly mounted on said driving shaft and heldin engaged relation with said driven gears; and a plurality of pitmen connected with said driving eccentrics and said piston rod for reciprocating said rod in timed relation with the rotation of said shaft.

4. An internal combustion gas turbine engine, comprisin a rotor having a plurality of radially d passages; a driving shaft fixedly connected with said rotor; an elongated cylinder ex-.

tended within said rotor in line with said driving'shaft, and having, a series of opencnded radially disposed passages arranged in the same plane with the spiral passages 'of said-rotor; piston rod slidably mounted on said cylinder; a plurality of pistonheads fixedly mounted on said rod in separated relation to form in conjunction with said cylinder an explosion chamber between said piston heads; .a valve controlled inlet for said cylinder; a valve cbntrolled passage in.

said cranking device ondriving shaft.

' tudinall dispose driving isposed open-ended spiral open communication between the space between said piston heads and the receiving a plurality of .of guide rQds slidably mounted in the frame ofsaidengine and connected with said piston rod; and a plurality of pitmen operatively connected with said driving eccentrics and adjustably connected with said guide rods for reciprocating the said rods" and said-piston rod connectedtherewith in timed relation with 5. An internal combustion gas turbine en? gine, comprising .a rotor having a plural ty adjacent to the said radially the rotation of said of radially disposed open-ended spiral passages; a driving shaft fixedly connected With said rotor; an elongated cylinder extended within said rotor in line with said driving shaft, and having a series of open-ended radially disposed apassages formed by longi- "partitionsconnecting the end sections of said cylinder,-saidend s'ections nd said partitions beingliollow and connected to form a circulating'water-jacket for said cylinder piston .heads and havspaces in said heads introducing an'd drawing from said spaces water for cooling said heads and rod and afwater circulating sys tern separately-connected with the passage in said rod for ejecting and drawing off the water employed for cooling said piston heads.

6. An internal combustion gas turbine-jengine, comprising a rotor having a plurality of radially disposed o en-ended-spiralpassages; a driving shaft, xedly connected with said rotor; an elongated cylinder extended in line with said driving shaft and providedwith a valve controlled fuel intake ort; a

plurality of .pistons spaced apar ,said

pistons being slidablymounted in said cyl inder; a partition having a plurality of i 125 to aline with the passages in said rotor;

radia-lly disposed delivery passages adapted and partitions; aplurality of piston heads disposed in spaced relation each to the other, each of said heads havinga hollow construction to form a Water cir'eulating cooling system; a piston rod fixedly connected with said v ing passages communicating with the water means operatively connected with said driv- I ing shaft for I'eciproeating the said pistons into and out of alinelnent with said rotor; In testimony whereof I have signed this means for transferring fuel from saideylinspecification in the presence of two subscribder to the space between said pistons; and 'ing Witnesses. means operatively timed with the movement of said pistons for igniting said fuel between said pistons coincident with the pas- Vitnesses: sage of said pistons in alinenient with the HERMAN N. ENGELBREUIIT, spiral passages in said rotor. V. A. THOMPSON.

ED\VIN 'ATVELI 

